Life Principle: EFFORT Hercules and the Wagoner A farmer was driving his wagon along a miry country road after a heavy rain. The horses could hardly drag the load through the deep mud, and at last came to a standstill when one of the wheels sank to the hub in a rut. The farmer climbed down from his seat and stood beside the wagon looking at it but without making the least effort to get it out of the rut. All he did was to curse his bad luck and call loudly on Hercules to come to his aid. Then, it is said, Hercules really did appear, saying: "Put your shoulder to the wheel, man, and urge on your horses. Do you think you can move the wagon by simply looking at it and whining about it? Hercules will not help unless you make some effort to help yourself." And when the farmer put his shoulder to the wheel and urged on the horses, the wagon moved very readily and soon the Farmer was riding along in great content and with a good lesson learned. Versions of Hercules and the Wagoner History of Hercules Effort Fable Choice Worksheet Effort Choice Worksheet Step 1: Question Focus: “Effort” Step 3: Improve the Questions. Question Focus Technique Resource 1) Identify open and closed-ended questions. 2) Change questions: select one question to change from open to closed-ended and one closed question to open-ended. Step 2: Produce Questions. Example: Closed to open Rules for producing questions: What was the farmer’s reaction to being stuck? 1. Ask as many questions as you can. 2. Change any statements into questions. What was the difference between the farmer’s 3. Write down every question exactly as stated. and Hercules’ reaction? 4. Do not stop to discuss, judge, or answer the questions. Step 6: Reflection Step 4: Prioritize questions. Identify 2-3 that are the most What do the characteristics of effort important. Be able to share a rationale for your choices. look like for me? ________________________ Critical Thinking Questions: 1.________________________________________ ________________________ _________________________________________ ________________________ 2.________________________________________ ________________________ _________________________________________ 3.________________________________________ ________________________ _________________________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ Step 5: Determine how questions are going to be used: (Evidence of Learning) ________________________ i.e. research project, real life application, assessment creation, discussion, written report, ________________________ visual representation, oral presentation, etc. _________________________________________ ________________________ _________________________________________ • Lesson on Fables - lesson plan for Grade 7 English Language ________________________ Arts – maybe adapted for other grade levels ________________________ • 19 Everyday Expressions That Came from Aesop ________________________ • Lesson Plans for Teaching Aesop's Fables - includes a wide ________________________ variety of resources for teaching Aesop’s Fables. .